A mental map

I was camping recently with friends in a meadow belonging to a large private house on a rugged bit of coastline. The view was familiar but I couldn’t quite work out where I was. I have often walked to a small point that looks out over a sheltered bay where many boats are moored and wondered how one gets to the bush-clad cliffs on the other side. When I walked down to the little bay in the morning I realised that I was now standing on the other side I have so often wondered about. Frowning in concentration, I tried to construct a picture in my mind of roads, paths, hills and water into which I could fit this new piece of jigsaw puzzle.

When going places I mostly drive around this island, using the main road (there is one main road) to get between points A and B. Thus my mental map is mainly made of roads. How different I wonder, would my mental map be if I were a bird?

In the absence of wings Google maps is super useful of course. But walking has to be the best way to build a more detailed mental map of a place (it’s definitely better for your wellbeing too). One of my camping friends told me how she spent the whole Covid time walking all the paths and tracks on the island. She always knows where she is.

Body mapping works in much the same way. At first we only recognise the main roads of sensory information yet the more we practise, the more detail comes to the light of our awareness.

Developing greater kinesthetic awareness - just paying attention to what I call our body sense is the first and an ongoing step in learning Alexander Technique. It takes a while to fine tune your senses and you may find that what you thought was true is not at all. I encourage you to take a body mapping journey on foot through a series of AT lessons. You’ll be surprised what you discover!

For those of you who live on Waiheke there is a chance to see how body mapping works for you and more in my next workshop. Here’s the link to book your place: https://events.humanitix.com/whole-body-harmony-sing-without-strain I hope to see you there.

Joining the strength of humanity at this time of the year to manifest peace on the Earth

Lauren

^{WALKING course has been postponed until March. More details in my next newsletter.}